Last days for heritage haven

GLOSSOP’s Heritage Centre is to close because the recession means the directors can no longer keep up with the rent. The Henry Street building, which also houses the tourist information centre, has already closed its exhibition floor upstairs while volunteers sort through the collections in preparation for the closure.

GLOSSOP’s Heritage Centre is to close because the recession means the directors can no longer keep up with the rent.

The Henry Street building, which also houses the tourist information centre, has already closed its exhibition floor upstairs while volunteers sort through the collections in preparation for the closure.

Although unable to pay rent, the building’s landlord has allowed the centre to stay in the premises rent free until 29 September.

Kate Best, who is one of the directors of the Heritage Trust which runs the centre, said that the future remains uncertain for Glossop’s heritage.

"We’re trying to find premises elsewhere but at the moment we’re not having much luck. We’ve closed our exhibition floors as we have an awful lot of items that need packing. We’re hoping that the key items in the collection can be kept together, we don’t want them going out of the town."

The centre is funded through donations, sales in the shop and money from High Peak Borough Council, which helps to pay for the three paid members of staff. But in recent years the funding has decreased and with the recession fewer people are making purchases or donations.

"Things like a museum and an information service don’t get people spending, particularly in a recession," said Kate. "Quite often people come in and want to know the time of a bus or get a leaflet about the Bakewell Show. They go away happy but without parting with any money."

While directors hope to be able to continue some of the services from their own homes and online, if no alternative venue can be found in Glossop then the collection would have to be put in storage, away from public view, and could eventually be lost from the town forever.